Page 19
Panel 1
Close-up of a somewhat subdued-looking Houjou.
Houjou: . . . Maybe once or twice. My stalker is outside the door. 100 yen.
Whoops! Ms. Izumi's after him. Two hundred.
Panel 2
Wide view of the room. The four look to where a grinning Auley is peeking
through the door. An outraged Ms. Izumi—the department secretary we saw
in book 2—is coming down the hall, arms out to collar him.
Auley: Dr. Houjou! Twelve-thirty, right on the button!
Houjou: Come in, Mr. De Dannan. We're discussing film.
It's all right, Ms. Izumi. He and I have an agreement.
Panel 3
Ms. Izumi has grabbed Auley, who looks a bit apprehensive.
Ms. Izumi: You're sure, Professor Houjou? I could have him out the window in
seconds.
Auley: We're on the fourth floor . . .
Panel 4
Houjou, in the foreground, speaks calmly to Ms. Izumi, who still has hold
of Auley.
Houjou: It's fine. Kagome left a bow and arrow here. If he gets out of hand
you can shoot him.
Panel 5
View of Sakamoto, Houjou, Ms. Izumi, and Auley. Ms. Izumi, smiling now, has
let go of Auley, who is rearranging his jacket.
Ms. Izumi: You're discussing film? I love Kurasawa's work.
Sakamoto: Did Kurasawa direct "Vampire Pussies from Outer Space"?
Houjou: I'm pretty sure that was Alan Smithee.
Sakamoto: Smithee's a genius.
Panel 6
View of Houjou, Tex, and Auley, who looks toward the door where Ms. Izumi
has apparently just departed.
Auley: She kill many intruders?
Tex: Not a lot.
Houjou: Did I get my 200 yen for them?
Tex: Yes.
Page 20
Panel 1
Close-up profile of Auley and Houjou, bowing to one another. Houjou looks
a bit annoyed.
Auley: Dr. Houjou. Good to see you.
Houjou: Mr. De Dannan . . . you've already accosted my colleagues, I believe?
Gentlemen, this is Mr. De Dannan, my stalker.
Panel 2
Close-up of Houjou, who still looks annoyed.
Houjou: Have a seat, Mr. De Dannan. Mr. De Dannan is investigating
an insurance claim of sorts involving a sword I once . . . inspected. To do
this properly he must pry into every corner of my personal life and make . .
. strange accusations. A terrible job.
Panel 3
View of a very cheerful-looking Auley, sitting in the chair with one knee
crossed over the other.
Auley: But somebody's gotta do it. At least you're an
interesting subject, Dr. Houjou. Some people are just—boring.
Houjou (offscreen): I'm delighted.
Panel 4
View of Sakamoto, looking angry, and Auley, effusive as ever.
Sakamoto: Does this bastard speak Japanese?
Auley: This bastard much understand but no so much good talk well Japanese.
A good man this is with tie on head to so ask. Thank you—Sakamoto-professor,
yes?
Sakamoto: What's Professor Houjou supposed to have done?
Auley: Is in insurance company no worry with Houjou-san done. Paperwork only.
Business matter only. How you think he Houjou keep tie shoulder no fall down?
Panel 5
Close-up of Houjou.
Houjou: Mr. De Dannan, I'll answer that if you promise
never to speak Japanese again. Velcro. I have a resourceful wife.
Panel 6
View of the group. Kraus and Tex are grinning. Sakamoto scowls. Auley, who
is seated, looks serious. Houjou has his back turned to Kraus and Tex; his expression
is very cold, very flat.
Kraus: Ha! "Resourceful"! I want a "resourceful"
wife like that!
Tex: Yep. This damn Kiwi Jap's gotta be blackmailin' that poor woman. No anthropologist
has a wife like that.
Page 21
Panel 1
Close-up of Houjou. He's not succeeding at looking pleasant. Tex, looking
rather surprised, hands him a coin.
Houjou: Don't listen to him. He owes me 200 yen.
Tex: Here.
Panel 2
Close-up of Auley, smiling now.
Auley: Ah, I'm sure Dr. Houjou has earned the right to
a lovely wife. He probably did something noble in a previous life.
Panel 3
View of Kraus, who is smiling—not so quick on the uptake. Auley looks
around curiously to see Houjou's reaction. Houjou is not amused.
Kraus: Ha! Houjou? I don't think so. More likely Kagome-san
is being punished for doing something terrible in one of hers.
Houjou: No doubt. Probably killed her boyfriend. Here comes Chairman Futakawa.
Panel 4
Wide view of the room. All the guys are bowing except Auley (who is still
seated and looking a bit confused). In the doorway is a balding middle-aged
man with "petty, bureaucratic little twit" written all over him. He
is dressed in a business suit, with a neatly folded pocket handkerchief, narrow
dark tie. He is balding, with a bad comb-over, and wears glasses and a petulant
expression. This is Chairman Futakawa, head of Anthropology and Edo's tribute
to the Peter Principle.
Kraus: Tex, tell Houjou's stalker we all have to stand up and bow.
Tex: Yeah. C'mon, stalker. Somebody farts in Japan, everybody
bows.
Houjou: . . . Usually it's the other way around . . .
Panel 5
Close-up of the Chairman
Chairman: Gentleman, there is a preposterous rumor . . .
Panel 6
Wide view of guys. An uncomfortable Auley (in suit and turtleneck) sits in
the chair, flanked by the others in their various eccentric outfits.
Chairman (offscreen): . . . that my department is leading a revolt against the
Dean's new dress code.
Tex: Um . . . that whole "white shirt and tie" thing?
Houjou: Excuse me, chairman, but Professor De Dannan refuses to wear a tie.
Page 22
Panel 1
Houjou, Sakamoto, and the Chairman look at Auley, who has recovered his usual
cheery expression.
Chairman: De Dannan? We have a professor De Dannan?
Auley: Yes, sir. Visiting Professor. Irish Mythology.
Very fond of rumpots, crackpots, and how are you, Chairman Futakawa?
Panel 2
Close-up of the Chairman.
Chairman: Well. So we all understand. The quality of an organization is reflected
in the professional appearance of its members.
Panel 3
The Chairman faces Houjou, who stands almost at attention, expressionless,
eyes hooded.
Chairman: I know that untenured assistant professor Houjou understands that.
One learns such things in a very well-connected family such as his. I'm sure
he will tie his necktie.
Panel 4
Close-up of Houjou, who has not moved a muscle from the previous panel.
Panel 5
Close-up of Houjou, still motionless.
Houjou: . . .
Panel 6
Houjou, still expressionless, begins to button his shirt.
Panel 7
View of Houjou and Sakamoto. Sakamoto frowns slightly as he looks at Houjou,
who—still with no expression—has begun to tie his necktie.
Page 23
Panel 1
Houjou stands silent. His tie is now tied. Next to him, Sakamoto is undoing
the tie around his own head.
Panel 2
Houjou has not moved. Sakamoto, expression as blank as Houjou's, ties his
own tie, as Auley looks on.
Panel 3
Auley looks on with a frown at Houjou—who is looking downward a bit—and
Sakamoto, who stares straight ahead. Behind Auley, Kraus and Tex look uncomfortable.
Panel 4
Close-up of the Chairman, with a smug smile.
Chairman: Very good. Very nice. So good to see . . . team spirit. Thank you,
Houjou-san.
Page 24
Panel 1
The Chairman inclines his head. Auley sits gripping the seat of the chair.
The others bow a bit lower—shoulders down—except for Houjou, who bows
to almost a 45-degree angle.
Panel 2
Kraus and Tex look sideways at Houjou and Sakamoto—Kraus looking nervous,
Tex looking angry. Sakamoto is serious. Houjou still looks down as he did, but
there is a faraway glow to his eyes. Auley looks up at Tex.
Tex: I like the way Houjou put him in his place by sarcastically
bowing too low.
Sakamoto: Fuck off, Tex.
Panel 3
Similar to panel 2. Kraus is turning away to go; Sakamoto has turned his
back to the others and is glaring toward the "fourth wall"; Auley
looks seriously up at Houjou, whose eyes still look weird.
Kraus: Well, I have work to do.
Tex: Yeah. I'd better go. Houjou, you want your tie—
Houjou: Keep it.
Panel 4
Sakamoto has swiveled back beside Houjou, whose expression is warmer, almost
a smile. Auley looks on.
Houjou: Curator, this was intended to be my personal humiliation session. You'll
pay for that later. But thank you.
Sakamoto: The Board just voted me tenure. No big deal.
Panel 5
Close-up profile of Houjou, who still looks subdued.
Houjou: Oddly enough, it's time for me to supervise the dig—where I am
excused from the shirt and tie rule. Well . . . I suppose I'll change down on
the site. Coming, Mr. De Dannan?
Panel 6
In close-up, Auley looks at Sakamoto, who looks away from him.
Auley: Uh—yeah. Sure. Dr. Sakamoto?
Sakamoto: Yes?
Auley: You said something I really liked back there.
Sakamoto: That is . . .
Panel 7
In close-up, Auley smiles at Sakamoto, who looks straight ahead. Note that
this is a very genuine-looking smile on Auley's part, not his usual annoying
cheerfulness.
Auley: You said, "Fuck off, Tex." Exactly what
I was thinking.
Sakamoto: You know, Mr. De Dannan, I don't really care for your or your many
questions.
Auley: I know, Dr. Sakamoto. That's one of the things I like about you.